Fastener for crate-covers.



M. WESLEY.

FASTENER FOR CRATE COVERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1912.

, 1,056,477, Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

N ll W1 T/VESSES MILES WESLEY, 0F BETHELRIDG-E, KENTUCKY.

FASTENER FOR CRATE-COVERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18,1913.

Application filed August 23, 1912. Serial No. 716,667.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MILES WEsLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Bethelridge, in the county of Casey and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Crate-Covers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping and storing vessels and particularly to a case designed for the shipping of eggs and other commodities.

An object of this invention is to provide novel means for securing the cover of a shipping crate in place and for holding the cover retaining member in place and looking the same against accidental removal.

A still further object of this invention is to provide the latch or fastener for holding a top retaining member in place, the said latch having novel means to permit its manipulation for disengaging the same so that by an upward pull on the latch releasing member the said latch is released and elevated clear of the path of travel of the top retaining member.

By the arrangement of parts just inclicated a convenient, durable and efiicient cover retaining member and latch is provided.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a crate or receptacle with a top and top retaining member embodying the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the said container, the said section being taken to one side of the latch; Fig. 3 illustrates an enlarged detail view showing a section of a fragment of a container with the top retaining device in section and the latch in elevation; and Fig. 4 illustrates a detail view of the latch guide and catch.

In these drawings 5 denotes the crate or container which may be of any appropriate construction and with any appropriate in- -1 wherein the said cover ternal partitions according to the commodity to be carried but as the partitions do not form a part of the present invention they are not shown and will not be described in detail.

As a means for retaining the outer ends of the cover in close contact with the upper surface of the sides and ends of the container, a retaining clip is provided at each end, said clip comprising a strip of metal shaped to produce the downwardly extend ing ends 11 which are connected to the sides of the container by the pivots 12, the portion 13 of the clip between the downwardly extending portions being adapted to overlie and engage the cover 10 when the parts are in the position of adjustment shown in Fig.

is clamped into position by the hinged clip.

The cover 10 is providedwith a latch 14 having one end secured to the cover 10 by fastenings 15 which may be of any appropriate type such as rivets, the said latch having a downwardly extending end 16 terminating in a lug 17 forming a shoulder which fits under the edge of the guide plate 18. The guide comprises an inner plate 18 and an outer plate 19, the latter of which has its ends inturned and interposed between the plates 18 and 19 for the purpose of spacing the said plates 18 and 19 apart to such an extent as to form a way or slot 20 for the admission therein of the latch, the said plates 18 and 19 being secured together and to the end of the container by appropriate fastenings such as 21. The depending portion 16 of the latch is further provided with a downwardly extending guiding member 22, the said member 22 having a looped upper end as shown at 23 where it is secured to the latch by fastenings such as 24. The depending member 22 extends on the outside of the plate 19 and is provided with an eye 25 for the reception of a ring 26, by which the latch is manipulated. The latch has an offset portion 14 forming a clearance for the receptacle of the clip when the said clip is in engagement with the cover.

In the operation or use of the invention, the latch 14 may be elevated as shown by the dotted line position thereof in Fig. 2 when the clip is free to be moved to the dotted line position in said Fig. 2 after which the cover 10 is free to be swung on its hinge.

After the cover is returned to its closed position, the clip may be swung to the full line position illustrated in Fig. 2 and the latch may be released so that it will descend into engagement with the retaining member formed by the bars 18 and 19 in which position the bail will be retained in place until the latch is released through the manipulation heretofore described.

I claim- 1. In combination, a fastener adapted to be used with a crate and cover comprising a bail pivoted at one end of the crate and adapted to be swung over the cover said fastener having a depending portion at the end of the crate, the said depending portion retaining the bail in place, and a latch retaining member secured to the crate for holding the latch in locked position.

2. In combination, a fastener adapted to be used with a crate and cover comprising a bail of substantially U-shape pivotally secured to the crate, a latch member secured to the said cover, the said latch member having an off set portion forming a clearance for said bail, and means for retaining the latch in locked position.

3. In combination, a fastener adapted to be used with a crate and cover, comprising a bail adapted to swing upwardly and engage the cover, a latch member for engaging the bail for holding the same into engagement with the cover, and a keeper for receiving one end of the latch.

4. In combination, a fastener adapted to be used With a crate and cover comprising a bail having a portion adapted to overlie and engage the cover and depending portions, means for pivoting the depending portions of the bail to the crate, a latch secured to the cover and having an offset portion forming a clearance for the bail, said latch having a depending portion extending down the end of the crate, a latch retaining device at the end of the crate, said latch retaining device comprising strips of material spaced apart to form a way for the latch, and means for securing the said latch retaining member to the crate and holding the parts thereto in spaced relation to each other.

5. In combination, a fastener adapted to be used with a crate and cover comprising a bail comprising a portion adapted to overlie and engage the cover and depending portions, means for pivoting the depending portions of the bail to the crate, a latch secured to the cover and having an offset portion forming a clearance for the bail, said latcn having a depending portion extending down the end of the crate, a latch retaining member at the end of the crate, a depending member secured to the latch, and a manually operated connection with said depending member whereby the latch is manipulated.

6. In combination with a shipping crate, a fastener comprising a bail pivotally sccured to one end of the crate, a guiding member secured to each end of the crate, a latch member comprising a resilient strip of metal having a lug on one end thereof,

the said lug adapted to extend through the guiding member and engage the lower edge thereof, and means on the latch member for manually manipulating the same.

7. In combination, a fastener adapted to be used with a crate and cover comprising a bail secured to the crate, a gulding member secured to the crate adjacent the upper edges thereof, a latch member secured to the cover, the latch member having a lug on one end thereof, and an offset portion intermediate its length, the said lug adapted to ex tend through the guiding member and engage the under surface thereof, means 011 one end of the latch member for d1sengaging the lug, and means for retaining the latch in locked position.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MILES WESLEY. Witnesses:

GEORGE WHILES, CLAUDY VVEsLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

